Cornucopia:The Whistler Resort Wine Fest Does Lit

abstract:The Cornucopia Festival in Whistler BC takes place each November during the formerly slow "shoulder season". That's the time of year when summer visitors have left locals daily watch the alpine fill with snow as the snow-line creeps down the ski runs toward the village. It's also when incredible deals can be had on food, as restauranteurs offer price-fix menus at discounted fairs, and everyone around awaits the food and wine festival so-named because of its proximity to Thanksgiving. This year they've ramped up to 11 full days of programming: so more wine tastings, more incredible winemaker dinners, cooking demonstrations and now they've added a fun new literary component. Wined Up on Books writes Pique Newsmagazine takes place Sunday November 17th at 7pm when ticket holders are matched up "speed dating style" with a panel of local authors to meet, chat about their writing craft, publishing experiences, check out their books and connect one on one over a few lovely glasses of wine. Participating this year is East Coast writer and long-listed Giller Prize nominee, Michael Winters, Minister Without Portfolio and current Whistler writer in residence Ania Szado, the best-selling author of Studio Saint-Ex who is also from Ontario, is taking part.

Local participating authors include children's author Sara Leach, author and founder of The Point artist-run centre Stephen Vogler, science journalist and author Leslie Anthony, Sue Oakey Baker author of the recently released memoir Finding Jim, author of coffee-table book Mauritania Paula Shackleton and Harvey herself, whose novel Nicolai's Daughters came out last year.